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Getting In: Preparing for Grad School

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Title: Getting In: Preparing for Grad School


1
Getting In Preparing for Grad School
  • Career Development Center Presentation
  • Kerri Quick Kaplan Test Prep

2
Session Agenda
  • Who Are We and What Are Our Services
  • The Future

3
The Career Development Center
  • Individual appointments with Career Counselors
  • Resumes
  • Applications
  • Cover Letters
  • Interview Preparation
  • Internships
  • Graduate School
  • Targeting Your Dream Job
  • Monday Friday
  • 800 430
  • Drop in Hours no appointment necessary
  • W-TH, 100-300
  • Tuesday Evenings open until 630
  • We are here to help Top Floor University Center
  • 570-422-3219

4
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and
youre entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks
Brothers gift certificate!
5
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and
youre entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks
Brothers gift certificate!
6
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Attend 5 sessions and
youre entered for a chance to WIN a Brooks
Brothers gift certificate!
7
November 8th
Seniors Only
EVOLVE College to Careers
In order to help graduating seniors prepare for
the next step, the Career Development Center
invites all graduating seniors for a program
designed to help them make the most of their
spring term and prepare for life after college.
Seniors will be informed of best practices on how
to increase their chances of success during an
interview, money management and transitioning to
a new community. Become informed of what soon to
expect in life after graduation.
8
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 100 p.m. 400 p.m.
9
The Future
  • There will be 55 million job openings through
    2020
  • 24 million new jobs
  • 31 million due to baby boom retirements
  • 35 of job openings will require a bachelors
    degree
  • Fastest growing industries - STEM, Healthcare
    Professions, Healthcare Support and Community
    Services
  • Will require high levels of post-secondary
    education
  • The U.S. will fall short by 5 million workers
    with postsecondary educations by 2020 at the
    current production rate

10
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11
NACE Salary Outlook 2014/Bureau of Labor
Statistics Occupational Outlook
12
Reasons to Go..
  • Intellectual interest
  • Money
  • Vocational interest

13
Free Money..
  • Teaching Assistantships
  • Research/Graduate Assistantships
  • Fellowships
  • Grants
  • LOANS

14
Application Checklist
  • Take appropriate standardized graduate admissions
    tests
  • Forwards scores to schools of interest
  • Obtain letters of recommendations
  • Obtain original transcripts
  • Draft, rewrite, polish statement of purpose
  • Send materials to schools

15
Additional Requirements/Items
  • Writing Sample
  • Clinical Hours
  • International Applicants
  • Interviews

16
GPA
  • Long-term indicator of your performance as a
    student
  • Reflects motivation ability to do good or bad
    work
  • Masters program requires a GPA of 3.0 or 3.3
  • Doctoral programs require minimum GPAs 3.3 or
    3.5
  • Admission committees look at courses taken
  • Look at overall GPA and the relevant program
    courses
  • Standardized exams GRE, MCAT, LSAT GMAT for
    comparisons

17
GRADES
  • It is what it is!!
  • Obtain transcripts - learn your worst grade,
    worst semester, worst class
  • GPA in Major vs. GPA Overall

18
What if I Have a Low GPA?
  • Take high quality courses
  • Take more classes
  • Take summer classes
  • Consider delaying graduation with an extra
    semester
  • After graduation take a few graduate courses to
    show aptitude

19
Statement of Purpose
  • The most important document of your Graduate
    application
  • Can be 300, 500 or 750 words
  • The Statement of Purpose required by graduate
    schools is probably the hardest thing you will
    ever write
  • Through the essay you will speak to the committee
    and demonstrate your unique fit to the program
  • Incidentally, the statement of purpose may also
    be called an Application Essay, Objectives for
    Graduate Study, Personal Background, Cover
    Letter, or some comparable title

20
Essay Dos
  • Prepare an outline and create a draft
  • Answer all the questions being asked
  • Make sure your essay has a theme or a thesis
  • Provide evidence to support your claims
  • Speak in the first person (I)
  • Make your introduction unique
  • Write clearly and make sure it is easy to read
  • Be honest, confident, and be yourself
  • Be interesting and positive
  • Make sure your essay is organized, coherent, and
    concise
  • Write about yourself and use examples from your
    own life experiences

21
Essay Dos
  • Use a mixture of long and short sentences
  • Discuss your future goals
  • Mention any hobbies, past jobs, community
    service, or research experience
  • Mention weaknesses without making excuses
  • Discuss why you're interested in the school
    and/or program
  • Show, dont tell (Use examples to demonstrate
    your abilities
  • Ask for help
  • Proofread and revise your statement at least 3
    times
  • Have others proofread your essay

22
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE-example- BORING
  • Introduction
  • First Sentence is the most important. Be
    creative.
  • The following sentences should provide a brief
    explanation that supports the claim made in the
    first sentence.
  • I am applying to the Master of Fine Arts program
    in creative writing at the University of Utah
    because I believe my writing will blossom at your
    program since it is a place where I will be
    challenged and I can hone my writing skills.

23
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE-example- HOOK!
  • I am honored to apply for the Master of Library
    Science program at the University of Utah because
    as long as I can remember I have had a love
    affair with books. Since I was eleven I have
    known I wanted to be a librarian.
  • When I was eleven, my great-aunt Gretchen passed
    away and left me something that changed my life
    a library of about five thousand books. Some of
    my best days were spent arranging and reading her
    books. Since then, I have wanted to be a
    librarian.

24
The Body
  • Usually 3 paragraphs providing detailed evidence
    supporting the intro statement
  • Each paragraph should have a transition statement
    to start a resolution statement to end
  • Include experiences, accomplishments or other
    evidence to support claims
  • Short summary of educational background is
    appropriate in first paragraph
  • Do not repeat application information
  • Last paragraph should explain why you should be
    accepted

25
The Conclusion
  • Last paragraph of your personal statement
  • State why you are interested in studying the
    subject of interest
  • State key points mentioned in the body in a
    conclusive brief manner (accomplishments,
    experiences)
  • End on a positive note with 1-2 attention
    grabbing sentences

26
Essays Donts
  • Be defensive or arrogant
  • Complain
  • Preach
  • Have your essay focus too much on other
    individuals
  • Discuss politics or religion
  • Give excuses for a low GPA
  • Make lists of accomplishments, awards, skills, or
    personal qualities (Show, dont tell)
  • Write a term paper or an autobiography
  • Summarize your resume
  • Include information already cited on the
    application

27
Essays Donts
  • Becoming increasingly popular/preferred
  • Replacing objective statement
  • Replaces the this is what I want objective
    statement with a this is the value that I offer
    branding statement Have any grammar or spelling
    errors. (Proofread!)
  • Be wordy or use jargon (dont try to impress the
    readers by using big words)
  • Swear or use slang
  • Digress or be repetitive
  • Be boring
  • Generalize
  • Include clichés
  • Use gimmicks
  • Be comical (a little humor is okay but remember
    it can be misconstrued)

28
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29
How To Get The Best Letters Of Recommendation
  • Build relationships over time
  • Be nice!
  • Start in SEPTEMEBER
  • Have your transcripts/resume ready to familiarize
    them with your performance
  • The reference may take it upon themselves to call
    the person directly
  • KEEP IN TOUCHdont burn your bridges!

30
Deadlines
  • Apply for acceptance in SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
  • DEADLINES fall around DECEMBER, JANUARY AND
    FEBRUARY
  • Be sure to check for open or rolling admissions

31
GRE Test Breakdown
Section Number of Questions Allotted Time
Analytical Writing (One section, Two timed tasks) One Analyze an Issue task and One Analyze an Argument task 30 minutes per task
Verbal Reasoning (Two sections) Approximately 20 questions per section 30 minutes per section
Quantitative Reasoning (Two sections) Approximately 20 questions per section 35 minutes per section
Unscored Varies Varies
Research Varies Varies
Total Testing Time About 4 hours Total Testing Time About 4 hours Total Testing Time About 4 hours
There is a 10-minute break following the third
section and a 1-minute break between other
sections.
32
The GRE Multi-Stage Test (MST) Adapts at
Section Level
  • Verbal Section 2a
  • 20 Questions
  • 6 Text Completion
  • 4 Sentence Equivalence
  • 10 Reading Comprehension

Highest potential score range
  • Verbal Section 1
  • 20 Questions
  • 6 Text Completion
  • 4 Sentence Equivalence
  • 10 Reading Comprehension
  • Verbal Section 2b
  • 20 Questions
  • 6 Text Completion
  • 4 Sentence Equivalence
  • 10 Reading Comprehension

Middle potential score range
  • Verbal Section 2c
  • 20 Questions
  • 6 Text Completion
  • 4 Sentence Equivalence
  • 10 Reading Comprehension

Lowest potential score range
33
The GRE Multi-Stage Test (MST) Adapts
at Section Level
  • Quantitative Section 2a
  • 20 Questions
  • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
  • 9-10 Problem Solving
  • 3 Data Interpretation

Highest potential score range
  • Quantitative Section 1
  • 20 Questions
  • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
  • 9-10 Problem Solving
  • 3 Data Interpretation
  • Quantitative Section 2b
  • 20 Questions
  • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
  • 9-10 Problem Solving
  • 3 Data Interpretation

Middle potential score range
  • Quantitative Section 2c
  • 20 Questions
  • 7-8 Quantitative Comparison
  • 9-10 Problem Solving
  • 3 Data Interpretation

Lowest potential score range
34
GRE Score Distribution
162-164
130
151 151
162 159 153
164 159 154
35
GRE Scoring and Other Details
  • Scoring for Verbal and Quantitative Sections
    130-170 in one point increments and 150 will be
    the mean AWA has a 0-6 scoring scale in
    half-point increments
  • Unofficial Quant and Verbal scores are available
    right after you finish the test with a 130-170
    score official scores, including writing score
    are mailed to you and the schools you select
    10-15 days later
  • Must wait 30 days to retest
  • The test is offered every day of the year except
    Sundays and major holidays. Register at
    www.gre.org
  • The cost of the test is 185
  • Test scores are good for 5 years

36
What the GMAT Covers
Integrated Reasoning Questions 12 multi-part
questions Time 30 minutes Question Types
Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, Two-part
analysis, Multi-source reasoning
VERBAL
Length 4 hours
37
Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) Scoring
38
GMAT Scoring Scale
90th
7700
80th
660
60th
590
550
39
GMAT Scoring and Other Details
  • Total GMAT score ranges from 200 800, AWA has a
    0-6 scoring scale in half-point increments
  • Integrated Reasoning scores range from 1 to 8 in
    single-digit intervals. Like the AWA, the IR
    scores are computed separately from the
    Quantitative and Verbal sections and have no
    effect on the Total score.
  • Unofficial scores will be available immediately,
    official scores will be sent in approximately 20
    calendar days
  • Must wait 30 days to retest
  • The test is offered every day of the year except
    Sundays and major holidays. Register at mba.com
  • The cost of the test is 250
  • Scores are good for 5 years

40
LSAT Test Breakdown
41
LSAT Scoring Scale
42
LSAT Scoring and Other Details
  • The LSAT is a paper and pencil test offer 4 times
    per year June, September/October, December, and
    February
  • Scored by raw score (number of questions
    correct), scaled score (120-180) and percentile
    score (you score compared to other test takers)
  • Can be taken 3 times in 2 years, scores good for
    5 years
  • Cost of test is 160, register at lsac.org

43
MCAT 2015 Test Breakdown
44
MCAT 2015
Test Cost Offered Retaking Validity Avg Prep
Time Application Deadlines Where to register
275 Approx. 28 times/year in Jan, Mar Sep No
lifetime limit can only take 3x/year 3
years 300 hours Accepted on a rolling basis
starting in June www.aamc.org
45
MCAT Scoring and Other Details
  • Registration opens up in February 2015 with a
    registration cost of 300. A 150 Amazon gift
    card will be given to April 2015 examinees. Test
    dates run April through September of 2015.
  • Each of the four sections on MCAT 2015 will be
    scored 118-132, for a total possible score of
    528.  The mean is expected to be 125 per section
    for a total mean score of 500.

46
Take a Free Practice Test
  • Experience the exam under proctored conditions
  • Receive a detailed score analysis
  • Learn strategies to prepare
  • Choose your date and register http//bit.ly/EastS
    troudsburg

47
Thank You Kerri Quick Market Manager Kaplan Test
Prep 570-225-8648 kerri.quick_at_kaplan.com www.kapte
st.com
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